ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID DENTON PUBLICATIONS/ NEW MARKET PRESS PO Box 338 Elizabethtown NY 12932 Postal Patron
Saturday, April 9, 2016
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In SPORTS | pg. 8-17
2016 Spring Sports Preview
View local school’s upcoming sport schedules
www.SunCommunityNews.com
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In OPINION | pg. 6
Another on time state budget but at what expense? We deserve better
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In OTHER | pg. 7
Rotary Day declared
In honor of Plattsburgh Rotary’s 90th
Sanders supporters mobilize before New York primary Inside the North Country effort to notch New York for their Green Mountain neighbor By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
PLATTSBURGH — One year after announcing their campaigns, the race for the Democratic presidential nomination has reached New York shores.
Sharing cultures
The looming showdown between Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton marks what observers say is the state’s first meaningful presidential primary since 1976. Neither candidate has locked up enough support to win the nomination. With 291 delegates, New York has the nation’s second-highest total haul. Sanders supporters are fired up.
Supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders hope to deliver New York to the Vermont senator when voters head to the polls for the primary election on April 19.
>> See Bernie | pg. 11
Cuisine Trail to head into
Clinton County
Cornell Cooperative Extension announces further agritourism development
Scholars are participants of McGill University program designed to offer tools for rebuilding stressed communities
PLATTSBURGH — Foreign scholars from an innovative program at McGill University will again share their voices with local residents. Participants in the International Community Action Network spend two years in Pete Montreal obtaining social work skills deDeMola signed to foster change, instill social justice Editor and rebuild shattered communities. Then they return to their homes in the Middle East, to countries gripped by war and conflict, and try to put these skills to use through grassroots efforts, including the establishment of outreach programs. Adnan Mahameed escaped from Syria, walking days through ISIS-controlled territory to Turkey before touching down in Canada. Mahameed told CBC News he was arrested three times by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad between 2011–2013 for participating in what he said were peaceful protests. While incarcerated, he was tortured. “They sent a message to my wife that I died in prison,” Ma-
Photo by Pete DeMola
By Teah Dowling
teah@suncommunitynews.com
Participants in McGill University’s International Community Action Network program will discuss their first-hand experiences with war, and what they’re doing to aid reconstruction efforts, in a pair of lectures on Saturday, April 9 in Keene Valley and Sunday, April 10 in Plattsburgh. Photo provided
hameed told CBC. “But I’m still alive.” The father of four is now enrolled in the program as the first scholar from Syria. Upon completion, the engineer-turnedactivist plans on setting up a service center in Jordan to help Syrian refugees. But before he does so, he will share his story with North Country residents this week. John Bingham, the event coordinator, said he hopes local residents will attend the events in Keene Valley and Plattsburgh and walk away with the message of hope. It cuts both ways, he said. >> Foreign Scholars | pg. 4
PLATTSBURGH — Clinton County stakeholders gathered March 31 to discuss a possible Clinton County cuisine trail. The initiative started in Essex County early this year to promote gastro- and agritourism. Now, they want to expand it into Clinton County with the help of the North Country Chamber of Commerce and interested local businesses. “The idea is to have local businesses come forward and want to promote their agricultural products,” said Jay White, president of the board of directors of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Essex County. “Agriculture in the whole North Country is worth celebrating.” White proposed two Adirondack Coast trails: one north and one south. The northern trail includes Rouses Point, Altona, Mooers, Beekmantown, Champlain, Chazy, Dannemora, Ellenburg, Mooers and Lyon Mountain. The southern trail covers Plattsburgh, Peru, Morrisonville, Redford, Saranac, Black Brook, Schuyler Falls and Keeseville. >> See Cuisine Trail | pg. 18